Eganville – Brian Weckwerth has dedicated much of his adult life to volunteerism in the community and is one of 11 individuals who recently received the Ontario Government’s Good Citizenship Medal for 2023.

Mr. Weckwerth was totally surprised to receive a call from the Lieutenant Governor’s office earlier
this year, advising him he was nominated for the award.

“I had no idea at all until I got a call saying I was picked as one of the nominees,” he admitted. “I asked
how that happened and they told me someone put my name in and it goes through a process.”

He said the award is actually for the 2023 calendar year, adding the submissions go through a lengthy review process by a panel to determine if they’re suitable candidates. Mr. Weckwerth said he thought
about declining the award, but after speaking with his brother, Dave, he reconsidered.

“He said, ‘you know what Brian, you should accept this on behalf of your family and on behalf of your community.’ He told me to let my light shine,” Mr. Weckwerth explained. “So, I accepted.”

He later learned it was Bonnechere Valley CAO Annette Gilchrist who submitted the nomination on behalf of township council.

“I’m sharing it with the community, and you’re only as good as the people you work with. It’s not a leadership award. I don’t see myself as a leader. I’m a doer.”

“Eganville has been good to us, and it was nice to move back here in ’85,” he continued.

The nomination defines what it is that makes a good citizen – respect, compassion, acceptance, courtesy,
and responsibility.

“Brian Weckwerth has time and time again proven himself to display these characteristics,” Ms. Gilchrist
wrote.

It highlighted his 30 years of volunteerism with groups like Camp Lutherlyn, Eganville Minor Hockey (EMH), the Eganville and Area Community Development Group (EACDG) and the Eganville Rotary Club.

“In each group he has worked with, he has displayed his good character and care for the community,” she noted.

It identified his important work with Camp Lutherlyn and the EMH helping with the financial details of both organizations, and donating his time so children have affordable opportunities for recreation and
leisure. It also identifies his work on the fishing dock, McRae Park, signage around the village and improving the downtown of the village with the EACDG.

In 2024, when the Shade Structure was created at the Splash Pad, he was involved, and he is part of the
EACDG’s fundraising project to raise money for a new playground at the Splash Pad in partnership with
Rotary and the township.

“All the above showcase how Brian has a genuine, caring heart for the people of Eganville and area and is deserving of this award,” the submission concluded.

Mr. Weckwerth found employment with Bell Northern Research in Ottawa after college and he and
his wife, Margaret, moved back to the Valley in 1985.

“Sandra Gagnon got me involved with the Cancer Society and we did that for many, many years, and then
Sue Pilon got me coaching softball, and it went from there,” he said of his volunteerism. When asked which of those projects he was most proud of, he said the fishing dock on the Bonnechere River, a fully-accessible dock on Water Street.

“We did the fundraising for that and we built it ourselves. Like I said, you’re only as good as the people
around you.”

He credited Willis Bowman and Dave Kruger for also being instrumental in the project.

“We spent a couple of months putting that thing together,” he recalled. “It’s probably the best fishing dock in the Ottawa Valley and it’s good to see it being used by lots of kids and tourists.”

Mr. Weckwerth said the EACDG is not quite as active as in the past, but the group is hosting a Duck Race
this summer with funds directed to the playground at the Splash Pad at Legion Field. It is a joint project
with the Rotary Club, township and EACDG.
“That was part of the original plan way back when,” he said.

He pointed out McRae Park has evolved into a real jewel for the township, and it was the EACDG, under the leadership of Gerald Tracey, the late Paul Kilby, Joe and Diane Moore, with many volunteers who saw it through to fruition.

“What an addition, and it’s used all the time,” he said of the park. Being involved with many projects, he said there are always key people leading the charge, who not only get the job done, but they make
it fun to get involved.

“If you tell Diane Moore to do something, it’s done,” he said.

Mr. Weckwerth has also been helping marshal the annual Santa Claus parade for the Rotary Club for 30
years, in all types of weather, but it too remains fun for him.

“I love doing it, welcoming all the floats, and seeing new and familiar faces,” he remarked.

He was unable to attend the ceremony to receive his award and it just arrived last Thursday. As one of two recipients in Renfrew County, (Lucille Levinski of Deep River was the other person honoured with a medal), he said it’s great the area had two of the 11 recipients in the province.

A Favourite Event

One of his most favourite projects was the Christmas in the Valley performances in Grace Lutheran Church which he and Mrs. Moore co-ordinated. The event featured musicians like the late Steve Agnew, the late Guy Jamieson, and the late Earl Bochert, and served as a fundraiser for the Food Bank, Bonnechere Union Public Library, the museum, etc.

“Anytime I got to sing with guys like Steve Agnew, Guy Jamieson, Earl Bochert – just hanging around those guys and how good they were, it was fun, but they are all gone now.”

He also got to sing with his daughter, Amy (Bernard) and his sister, Marilyn Schruder.

“That didn’t feel like volunteering; it was so much fun,” he noted.

Mr. Weckwerth said what has been equally enjoying is delivering Christmas dinners donated by George and Leah Pezoulas of the Rio Tap and Grill each year to some 200 local residents. He said when one gets an award like this, it is very humbling, and one feels there are others who are more deserving.

“I told that to the Lieutenant Governor’s staff, and they said ‘Yes, but they weren’t nominated, and you were.’ They told me it takes a lot of hours to review these, and they asked me to please accept it.”

Mr. Weckwerth said at age 71 he has no plans to retire from volunteering.

“I’ll continue for as long as I can go, and if it’s for the right cause,” he stated.

He said his involvement would not be possible without the support of his wife and their family.

“Margaret volunteers a lot of hours too,” he said.

There have been a lot of great things done in Eganville in the last 10 years, he said, noting Dinner on the Bridge for Canada Day proved a huge hit. He noted how the village also hosted a huge parade and dinner to honour local Olympian Melissa Bishop-Nriagu in 2016.

Mr. Weckwerth is being honoured for his award at the BV council meeting on April 22 at 1:30.